The Hateful Eight
If you ever needed proof that I’m not that big a Tarantino fan, consider this: I only own one of his films, and it’s Death Proof.
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Tag Archives: Western
The Lone Ranger
It’s abundantly clear that Disney was hoping for another Pirates of the Caribbean-type success with The Lone Ranger. So much so that they reportedly pumped $215 million (excluding marketing) into a western, something that hasn’t had mega-success with the general cinema-going public for years now.
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Django Unchained
Unsurprisingly, the film is also way too long, with a runtime of 165 minutes. This may be par for the course with Tarantino, but in this case, I could actually pinpoint the section that could have been excised in order to bring the film down to a reasonable length.
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True Grit
It’s glorious to be able to see Damon in a supporting role – something it seems he hasn’t done for years and years. He really gets stuck into his character, and must have relished the opportunity to really flex his acting muscles once more.
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Red Hill
Perhaps most impressive is Hughes’ restraint, and what appears to be single-minded determination to make the film he wanted to make. His characters are players in an epic tragedy, and one can only hope this is the first of many successes for this new local star.
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The Burrowers
Basically, it’s not safe to be on the ground when the beasties turn up. For the majority of the film the monsters stay hidden, which works wonderfully. When we do finally get a glimpse it’s a little silly but still effective.
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Gran Torino
Gran Torino gets props for having an elderly man as its main character, something we rarely see in mainstream released flicks, but overall it’s a mess. There are good moments, and there are some decent laughs to be had (some more intentional than others). If this is indeed Eastwood’s final performance, it’s a pity.
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Australia
Pretentious and overbearing, this extraordinarily expensive piece of fluff will undoubtedly warm the cockles of overseas audiences, but one wonders whether the millions spent on marketing will bear fruit. Either way, it seems unlikely Australia will be remembered as much more than feel-good schmaltz.
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3:10 to Yuma
Testing each other with offer and counter offer, they share stories of themselves and build a bond that neither desires. The psychological duel between good and bad man is a frequent structural component in film scripts, yet it is rarely so well done as here.
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No Country for Old Men
His introductory scenes show him to possess a code of sorts, unfamiliar to any rational audience member, that allows him to kill without remorse and even occasionally to let luck decide who lives or dies. He is chilling and evil, and entirely believable thanks to Bardem’s wonderful turn.
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Like most of the Coens’ work, there are brilliant moments of black humour, though, like Chigurh, these could become harrowingly violent at any moment. It’s hard to get too relaxed watching No Country for Old Men.
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